Incandescent-lamp protector.



No. 683,046. Patented Sept. 24, I901,

J. M. HDWLEY.

INCANDESCENT LAMP PROTECTOR.

(Application filed June 20, 1901) (No Model.)

wi lmawe o umo WASNINGTON, n cy 5o 7 and the diaphragm 2 effectuallyclose the UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. HOWLEY, OF BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY.

lNCANDESCENT-LAMP PROTECTOR.

'srncrrrcarroiv forming part of Letters Patent No. 683,046, datedSeptember 24, 1901.

Application filed June 203 1901.

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN M. HOWLEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bayonne, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Incandescent-LampProtectors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to incandescentlamp protectors; and it has forits object to provide an improved protector of this class whereby thebases or sockets of incandescent lamps exposed to the elements may beeffectually protected against short-circuiting and other injurycustomarily occasioned by the attack of rain-water and other extraneousand harmful material or objects.

The invention is particularly adapted for the protection of incandescentelectric lamps employed in the illumination of outdoordisplay-signsembodying words or letters, but may be conveniently andeffectively applied for the protection of incandescent lamps otherwiseinstalled-as, for instance, in cornice and facade decoration andillumination.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of an illuminatedsign-letter embodying incandescent-lamp bulbs provided with my improvedprotectors, the bulbs being transversely sectioned. Fig. 2 is a detailvertical sectional view taken through one of the bulbs and the protectorof the same. Fig. 3 is a rear orbottom plan view of the improvedprotector in detached position.

Corresponding parts in all the figures aredenoted by the same referencecharacters.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates my improved protector, whichembodies a flexible and preferably elastic diaphragm 2, which isprovided with a central opening or perforation 3, through which the neck4 of the incandescent-lamp bulb 5 is passed for connection with thelamp-socket 6. The flexible diaphragm 2 is carried byabody-ring 7, whichis fitted into the lamp-fitting 8, which in the present instanceconsists of the face-plate 9 of an illuminated letter 10, which isprovided with an opening 12 to receive the body-ring 7 and the neck 4 ofthe bulb. The body-ring opening 12 in the face-plate 9, with theexception of the opening 3 in the diaphragm 2,

fierial No. 65.317. (No model.)

which opening is closed by the neck of the bulb when the same is passedthrough said opening and seated in the socket 6. In thus passing theneck of the bulb through the opening in the flexible and elasticdiaphragm said diaphragm is curved or dished inwardly, as at 13, so thatthe outer surface of said diaphragm constitutes a concavity, and theelasticity of the diaphragm causes the same to bind tightly upon theneck of the bulb at the edge portions 1 1 of the opening 3, effectuallypreventing entrance of Water or other extraneous materials through 'theopening 3. The socket 6 beneath the face-plate 9 of the sign-letter 10is thus effectually housed and protected against all influences whichwould tend to interfere with the maintenance of a perfect circuit orcondition of the line-wire, switch, contacts, and other featurescomprised in the socket construction. The concavity of the diaphragm 2,caused by the dishing of the same in the insertion of the neck of thebulb through the opening 3, causes the discharge from said diaphragm ofany water or other mobile substances which might flow onto the outersurface 13 of the same, such substance being discharged from thediaphragm by gravity.

The outer or forward surface portion 13 of the diaphragm 2 may bedecorated or colored as desired; but to increase or concentrate theilluminating power of the lamp the said outer surface portion 13 ispreferably of a pure white color, the result being that the rays oflight cast by the bulb from end to end are pure white in color and givethe highest illuminating effect.

In the preferred form of construction the protector embodies in a singleentirety the body-ring 7, the diaphragm 2, and a rearwardly-projectingsecuring-flange 14, between which and the rear surface of the bodyring 7the face-plate 9 of the letter or the corresponding part of thelampfitting of other design is received. The entire pro tector may beinexpensively molded out of soft rubber, which will provide for theelastic quality of the diaphragm 2 and will cause the body-ring 7 andthe securing-flange 1 4 to bind firmly upon the face-plate 9 or otherlamp-fitting. The securing-flange 14 extends continuously around theinner edge portion of the body-ring 7 at the inner or rear face of thesame, and the forward wall of the same is formed with a rearward flareor bevel, as at 15, the rear or inner face of the body-ring 7 beingcorrespondingly rearwardly flared or beveled, as at 16. The flared orbeveled surface portions 15 and 16 cause a more positive and tight jointor connection of the protector with the face-plate 9 or otherlamp-fitting, effectually preventing the entrance of moisture or otherextraneous materials between the edge portions of the opening 12 in theface-plate 9 and the Walls of the body-ring 7 and securing-flange 14.

The operation and advantages of my improved incandescent-lamp protectorwill be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which itappertains.

In order to install one of the protectors in operative position in oneof the openings 12 in the face-plate 9, the securing-flange 14: issimply forced through said opening 12 until the edge portions of saidopening 12 are firmly seated between the securing-flange and thebody-ring, the inner or rear surface portion 16of the body-ring fittingtightly against the portions of the face-plate 9 which surround theopening 12. The protector 1 is thus firmly secured in operativeposition, but may be removed for repair or substitution by simplywithdrawing the securing-flange let through the opening 12. With theprotector l in operative position the neck of the incandescent bulb isforced through the opening 3 in the diaphragm 2 and is seated in thesocket 6 by screwing or otherwise in the customary manner. Thisoperation draws or dishesthe diaphragm inwardly or rearwardly around theneck of the bulb, as illustrated, and causes the edge portions 14. ofthe open ing 3 in the diaphragm to bind tightly upon the neck of thebulb. The opening 12 in the face-plate 9, surrounding the neck of thebulb, is thus effectually closed against the entrance of moisture orother materials which would tend to interfere with the proper supply andoperation of the lamp.

The integral formation of the molded rubber protector enablesinexpensive manufacture of the same, thus permitting of a free use ofthe protectors without the incurring of material additional expense. Theutilization of the outer surface portion of the diaphragm as a reflectoror concentrator for the light dispensed by the incandescent bulb addsmaterially to the efficiency of the lamp without entailing materialadditional expense. This reflecting or concentrating function of thediaphragm is increased by the concave or dished form of the diaphragmresultant upon the passage of the neck of the bulb through the openingin the diaphragm for connection with the lamp-socket.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the details ofconstruction and arrangement as herein described and illustrated, as itis manifest that variations and modifications may be made in thefeatures of construction and arrangement in the adaptation of the deviceto various conditions of use without departing from the spirit and scopeof my invention and improvements. I therefore reserve the right to allsuch variation and modification as properly falls within the scope of myinvention and the terms of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent-- 1. An improved incandescent-lamp protector, comprisinga body-ring adapted for connection with the lamp-fittin g and carrying aperforated flexible diaphragm through which the lamp-bulb is projected.

2. An improved incandescent-lamp protector, comprising a perforatedflexible diaphragm through which the lamp-bulb is projected, and meansfor connecting said dia phragm with the lamp-fitting.

3. An improved incandescent-lamp protector, comprising a perforatedflexible and elastic diaphragm through which the lamp-bulb is projected,and means for connecting said diaphragm with the lamp-fitting.

4.. An improved incandescent-lamp protec tor, comprising a dished orconcave perforated fiexible diaphragm through which the lamp-bulb isprojected, and means for connecting said diaphragm with thelamp-fitting.

5. An improved incandescent-lamp protector, comprising a dished orconcave perforated flexible and elastic diaphragm through which thelamp-bulb is projected, and means for connecting said diaphragm with thelampfitting.

6. An improved incandescent-lamp protector, comprising a body-ringprovided with a securing-flange adapted for connection with thelamp-fitting and with a perforated flexible diaphragm through which thelamp-bulb is projected.

7. An improved incandescent-lamp protec tor, comprising the body-ringprovided with a rearwardly-projecting securing-flange having arearwardly-beveled forward surface p'ortion, said body-ring beingprovided with a rearwardly-beveled rearward surface por-' tion, saidbody and said securing-flange being formed to receive the lamp-fittingbetween said beveled surface portions, and a I perforated flexiblediaphragm carried by said body-ring andth-rough which the lamp-"bulb isprojected.

8. An improved incandescent-lamp protector, comprising a dished orconcave perforated flexible diaphragm through which the lamp-bulb isprojected, said diaphragm being provided with areflecting forwardsurface portion, and means for connecting said diaphragm with thelamp-fitting.

9. The combination, with an incandescentlamp bulb; of a protectorconsisting of a perforated diaphragm through which the lampvided with areflecting forward surface pornection with the lamp-fitting and carryinga tion, and means for connecting said diaperforated diaphragm throughwhich the I 5 phragm with the lamp-fitting. lamp-bulb is projected.

5 10. Animproved incandescent-lamp protec- In testimony whereof I havesigned my tor, comprising a dished or concave perfoname in the presenceof the subscribing witrated'diaphragm through which the lamp-bulbnesses. is projected,- said diaphragm being provided bulb is projected,said diaphragm being pr0 tor, comprising a body-ring adapted for conwith a reflecting forward surface portion, and JOHN HOWLEY 10 means forconnecting said diaphragm with Witnesses:

the lamp-fitting. J. R. LITTELL,

l1. Animprovedincandescent-lampprotec- M. M. DURKIN.

